Her Haven teams with area interior design students to aid community

Phyllis A.S. Boros

Updated 11:59 am, Friday, April 19, 2013

University of Bridgeport professor Giancarlo Massaro instructs one of his interior design students, "Sam" Finch, on a project with Her Haven, a nonprofit Monroe-based organization, that creates special spaces and home sanctuaries for special women in the community. The university and Her Haven are joining forces to host an open house April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. on campus.
Photo: Contributed Photo

University of Bridgeport professor Giancarlo Massaro instructs one...

University of Bridgeport interior design student Talissa Traverso sketches plans for a living room for Huntington House, a group home in Bridgeport, which is the current project for Her Haven, a Monroe-based nonprofit that helps individuals and groups create special spaces for women with the help of college students.
Photo: Contributed Photo

University of Bridgeport interior design student Talissa Traverso...

University of Bridgeport interior design student Talissa Traverso sketches plans for a living room for Huntington House, in Bridgeport, as part of a program that pairs college students with the nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven, that helps to create special spaces for deserving women. A program open house is scheduled for April 24.
Photo: Contributed Photo

University of Bridgeport interior design student Talissa Traverso...

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with Fairfield University interior design students and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to create special spaces for two Bridgeport women, each with a child with special needs. Shown is a completed dining room for client Nordia Black.
Photo: Contributed Photo

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with...

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with Fairfield University interior design students and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to create special spaces for two Bridgeport women, each with a special needs child. Shown is the living room for client Nordia Black. The design students solved a space problem by creating two distinct rooms by using flowing curtains, at right.
Photo: Contributed Photo

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with...

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with Fairfield University interior design students and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to create special spaces for two Bridgeport women, each with a special needs child. Shown is client Nordia Black opeing a house-warming gift by Jim Metzger in her new dining room.
Photo: Contributed Photo

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with...

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with Fairfield University interior design students and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to create special spaces for two Bridgeport women, each with a special needs child. Above is client Elizabeth Bosques' new living room.
Photo: Contributed Photo

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with...

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with Fairfield University interior design students and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to create special spaces for two Bridgeport women, each with a special needs child. Above, client Elizabeth Bosques relaxes in her new living room.
Photo: Contributed Photo

The nonprofit Monroe-based Her Haven joined forces last year with...

Her Haven's first project in 2009 created a pleasant, cozy space from this barren room for Bridgeporter Nancy Kingwood.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Her Haven's first project in 2009 created a pleasant, cozy space...

Her Haven's first project in 2009 created a pleasant, cozy space from an unused room for client Nancy Kingwood in Bridgeport. Above is the finished space.
Photo: Contributed Photo

More Information

When you go: "Designing a Difference" reception and presentation takes place Wednesday, April 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center' first-floor art gallery, corner of Iranistan and University avenues on the University of Bridgeport campus. Admission is free; donations welcome. www.herhaven.org; 203-216-4979.

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For many of us, getting home from work means quickly changing into comfortable clothes and then heading for a favorite space to unwind-- someplace that's warm and welcoming.

But not everyone has an attractive and soothing space to read a book, enjoy a cup of tea with a friend or entertain the family on special occasions. Not everyone has the financial resources to hire an interior designer or the energy, time or talent to create special spaces.

And that's where Her Haven enters the picture. This new nonprofit organization, based in Monroe, is dedicated to bringing "beauty, comfort and care" into the lives of women and organizations that serve women through low-cost interior design projects.

Founded a few years ago by interior designer Carey Dougherty as a way of doing "something meaningful for the community," the organization's mission is to "help women in need by designing spaces that inspire them to live fuller, richer, more productive lives."

Her Haven -- with the slogan "Designing a Difference" -- does not charge its clients; it exists totally on community support: financial contributions, donations of most supplies (from paint, floral arrangements and furniture to rugs, artwork and window treatments) and in-kind services from builders and others.

And who comes up with the design proposals? Dougherty came up with a "light-bulb" moment a while back to partner with university interior design programs at Fairfield University and the University of Bridgeport. The creation of all the interior design work is part of their course load, "giving students real-world experience" and the "satisfaction of supporting women" who are trying to make a difference in their communities, she said.

Dougherty's role is to oversee the process of choosing clients (along with her board of directors). Nominations from the public are encouraged or individuals can also request services by submitting an application. She is also the chief fundraiser and coordinates in-kind services and supplies.

Her Haven's current project is for Huntington House in Bridgeport, a Victorian building being converted into a small group home to serve women striving to overcome trauma and addictions. Affiliated with the Recovery Network of Programs, the project is expected to be completed this summer.

Jennifer Kolakowski, chief clinical officer for the Recovery Network of Programs, said, "The program is phenomenal and an amazing fit for us. I'm sure that the common space will be welcoming, safe and warm. And that will be wonderful."

The public is invited to learn about this innovative program and to view proposed designs for Huntington House at a free presentation on Wednesday, April 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the first-floor art gallery at the University of Bridgeport's Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center.

A slide show will be presented about Her Haven and concepts for five bedrooms and a meeting space for the new recovery facility will be on view. Among those on hand on April 24 will be Dougherty and Massaro, an architect and interior designer, who describes the partnership as a "win-win" situation.

"It offers the students an incredible opportunity to work on real-world issues and to develop real design solutions" -- which is rare for college students, he said. And with a "minimal budget to work with, the students have a chance to come up with highly creative design proposals," he added. "Her Haven is inspiring to me and to the students because it allows us to contribute and help the community."

"We encourage the community to join us in exploring the hope and healing that a well-designed interior can inspire," said Dougherty. "Our surroundings do make a difference, and so do the students who have dedicated their time and talents to this effort."

Dougherty is passionate "that a home can truly enhance one's well being" when it reflects "who they are, where they've been and what they love."

While Dougherty leaves the designing solely to the students working on the Her Haven projects, her approach to design is "to create rooms that are eclectic and unexpected: rooms filled with contrast, juxtaposition and balance."

The first project came about when Dougherty asked Soroptimist International of Greater Bridgeport to join her in 2009 in transforming a storage room into a "comfortable and stylish" office for Bridgeporter Nancy Kingwood.

Kingwood, who is deputy director of HIV services for the Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program and recipient of many community honors, was working on a master's degree (which she received) while sharing a home with her daughter and twin 3-year-old granddaughters. A preacher, Kingwood said the project was a blessing and gave her a place to "sit and be still -- and to pray."

"My work with Nancy ... really changed my life," Dougherty said. "Nancy got a newly designed space in her home ... ; I got the amazing joy of having done something so meaningful for someone. I wanted to share that experience with other student designers and connect people in a positive way."

Her Haven was thus born. Its initial projects united the efforts of Her Haven, 11 Fairfield University students and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County in 2012 in creating living rooms and dining rooms for Nordia Black and Elizabeth Bosques, Bridgeporters who each have a child with special needs.

"The entire project, from beginning to end, was amazing," said Bosques. "Carey is an amazing person, and her program is amazing, too."

The 40-something student responsible for coordinating the Bosques' project was Jenine Beck, of Fairfield, who has her residential interior design certificate and is working toward a commercial one from Fairfield University. Design student Bethany Armstrong was in charge of the Black residence.

Her Haven is "an extraordinary program that is so rewarding. It's a great feeling to know that you are making a difference. Carey's remarkable spirit is contagious," Beck said.